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After his success at the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal improved his record this year to 14-0 wins
Photo:
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal defeated new world number one Daniil Medvedev from Russia, continuing his winning streak in 2022.
In the semifinals of the ATP tournament in Acapulco, the 35-year-old Spaniard surprisingly won 6: 3, 6: 3 on Friday evening and thus also won the new edition of the Australian Open final.
At the end of January, Nadal had won the Melbourne final in five contested sets, capturing his 21st Grand Slam title.
14:0
Despite the smooth result, the second round in particular was hard fought.
"This set was very emotional," said Nadal, who fended off eleven breakballs from the Russian in the second set, "Daniil played very aggressively, that was very difficult.
I was a bit lucky to win the set, he had some chances."
Medvedev saw it differently: "I don't think I played well today, my level throughout the match was not good enough to play against a player like Rafa".
Medvedev added that he had the feeling that he lacked the energy today.
Nadal is still unbeaten after 14 wins in this tennis calendar year and could win his third title in 2022 after the Australian Open and the ATP tournament in Melbourne.
In the final, he will meet Britain's Cameron Norrie, who won his semi-final against Greece's co-favorite Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Medvedev, who lost in the semifinals, becomes number one in the world for the first time despite his early exit.
He replaces the Serbian Novak Djokovic.
At the tournament in Acapulco on Monday, he was concerned about Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine.
ngo/dpa
